St John'S College, The Buildings Surrounding The First, Second And Third Courts

ST JOHN'S COLLEGE: THE BUILDINGS SURROUNDING THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD COURTS

This group comprises the principal college buildings arranged around three successive courts, spanning from the early 16th century to the late 17th century.

First Court

The East Range with Gatehouse dates from 1511–16 and is built of red brick with dressings in freestone and clunch. The Gatehouse rises three storeys and was restored and partly reconstructed in 1934–5. It features an embattled parapet and angle turrets with much carved decoration and a moulded four-canted arch. The original windows and oak doors of around 1516 survive. The Gatehall contains a two-bay fan vault, and the room above incorporates re-set 16th and later linenfold panelling. The range to the north of the gate consists of two storeys and attics with some contemporary interior features. The section to the south is similar, though the Junior Combination Room contains several features of particular interest.

The Chapel, built 1863–9 to designs by Sir Gilbert Scott, is executed in the 13th-century Gothic style in Ancaster stone. It comprises a very tall nave and tower with an apsed east end to St John's Street, separated from the east range of First Court but connected by a wrought-iron screen. The tower rises three stages with an open arcaded belfry and pinnacles. The interior includes an antechaple and main chapel of five bays with an apsidal end. The fittings and monuments include several 15th and 16th-century brasses from the old chapel, some 15th-century glass, and the remainder by Clayton and Bell, Hardman, and Wailes, all of around 1869. The furnishings include a brass eagle lectern of 1840 and a seated marble statue of James Wood by E H Baily RA dated 1843. The stalls of 1516 have carved misericordes.

The West Range, built 1511–16 of red brick with embattled parapets, was extended in its northern part in 1863–5 by Sir Gilbert Scott; the brickwork was refaced in 1935. The Hall roof has a hexagonal louvre of 1703. The west and east fronts are similar in appearance except that the 19th-century extension is not visible from the west. Internally, the Hall is eight bays (formerly five) and has a fine hammer-beam roof. It is lined to cill level with linenfold panelling of 1528–9, which was extended in 1863. The five-bay screen is original but much restored. The heraldic glass dates from all centuries between the 15th and 19th. The Butteries and Kitchen form the remainder of the range, with exposed beams and some 18th-century panelling.

The South Range dates from 1511–16 but was raised one storey and refaced in ashlar by James Essex between 1772–6. It rises three storeys with a band at first-floor level, sash windows with architrave surrounds, pedimented doorcases, and a slate roof. The interior arrangements have been considerably altered.

Second Court

Work began in 1598 under contract by Ralph Symons and Gilbert Wigge. The buildings are of red and yellow brick with Northamptonshire stone dressings and slate roofs, rising two storeys and attics.

The North Range comprises ten bays. Lead rainwater heads are dated 1599. Internally there is some 17th and 18th-century panelling. The Combination Room, originally the Master's Gallery, has a plaster ceiling of around 1600 by Cobbe, with walls panelled throughout and divided by fluted and enriched Doric pilasters. Two fine fireplaces are present, one from the old Red Lion Inn. The ceiling continues into the small room to the west, which is lined with mid-18th-century panelling. The west staircase dates from 1628 and has contemporary panelled walls. One attic room has panelling of around 1600, the remainder being 18th-century.

The South Range contains sets of rooms and Kitchen offices. The interior has features from different periods: original panelling of around 1600; a staircase and panelling from the mid-18th century; and cupboards and other fittings from around 1600.

The West Range is externally similar to the other ranges except for its central gatetower, the Shrewsbury Tower, which rises three storeys with angle turrets and battlements. The archway has a four-centred head with label, the arms above dating from 1671. The gatehall has a panelled stone vault in two bays. The room above contains early 18th-century bolection-moulded panelling; above that, plain 18th-century panelling. The rest of the range retains some original internal features, including panelling and fireplaces.

Third Court

The North Range, including the Library, dates from 1623–5. It is built of red and yellow brick with freestone dressings and comprises ten bays. The ground floor has two four-centred lights to each bay; the first floor, which houses the Library, has two cinquefoil ogee lights in a traceried head to each bay. The north wall has five double bays separated by buttresses with similar windows. The river front features a two-storey three-sided bay window and is dated 1624. Internally, the ground floor has no ancient features, having been adapted for Library use in the 19th century. The Library has a ten-bay roof restored by James Essex in 1783 and reconstructed 1927–8; the bookcases are partly Jacobean and partly 18th-century. The panelling is 17th-century, and the west window contains heraldic glass of 1850.

The West Range dates from 1669–73 and is of red brick with stone dressings and slate roofs, rising three storeys and attics. The east front has a projecting centrepiece with an open arcaded walk of six bays on either side, with the centrepiece rising three stages in Tuscan order. The arcading is ashlar with Tuscan pilasters and two-light windows. The river front is in five bays divided by chimney projections. Rainwater heads are dated 1672 and 1799; the main foundations were strengthened in 1777 and 1841. Shaped gables are surmounted by finials. Internally, the staircases are original, and several rooms retain original panelling and other features.

The South Range, also of 1669–73, rises three storeys and attics and comprises eight bays. It is dated 1671 on the river front and on a rainwater head. Each bay has two four-centred lights. The interior contains many original features including beams, fireplaces, and panelling, along with some 19th-century features.